In the ongoing pattern of misinformation from former President Donald Trump, he continues to falsely claim that he was named “Man of the Year” in Michigan before he ran for president. Despite this being disproven multiple times, Trump reiterated this false claim during a recent speech in Detroit, stating that he received the award long before entering politics, 12-13 years ago. However, there is no evidence to support this claim, as no entity in Michigan has ever given out a “Man of the Year” award, Trump has never resided in Michigan, and he has not provided any specifics about who supposedly bestowed this award upon him and when.
Despite numerous fact checks debunking Trump’s assertion of being named “Man of the Year” in Michigan, a Republican group in the state, the Oakland County Republican Party, did present him with a “Man of the Decade” award in 2023. However, Trump clarified during his recent speech that this was not the award he was referencing, reiterating his claim of receiving the “Man of the Year” award more than a decade ago. When reached for comment, Trump’s campaign did not provide any evidence to support his claim of receiving such an award, further adding to the lack of credibility behind his assertion.
Trump’s confusion about the origins of the alleged award is apparent, as he has made conflicting statements about who gave him the award and why. In a 2022 speech, he mentioned the Chamber of Commerce in Michigan, despite the organization confirming they do not have such an award. Similarly, in a 2019 speech, Trump expressed surprise at receiving the award years before running for office, indicating his own lack of understanding about the circumstances surrounding this supposed honor.
Former Republican US congressman Dave Trott offered the most plausible explanation for Trump’s inaccurate narrative. In 2017, at a roundtable event with automotive executives, Trump insinuated that he received the “Man of the Year” award at a 2013 event in Michigan where Trott invited him to speak at a Lincoln Day dinner in Oakland County. Trott clarified that while he did give Trump gifts at the event, including a framed copy of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, no “Man of the Year” award was bestowed upon him. Trott, who had become a vocal critic of Trump by 2019, felt compelled to set the record straight now that he was no longer in Congress and comfortable correcting the story.
As the misinformation regarding Trump’s alleged “Man of the Year” award in Michigan persists, it highlights the former president’s tendency to promote false narratives and inaccuracies. Despite repeated fact checks and lack of evidence to support his claim, Trump continues to assert that he received this award before entering politics, adding to the confusion and lack of credibility surrounding this longstanding falsehood. The ongoing perpetuation of this misinformation underscores the importance of fact-checking and holding public figures accountable for their statements to ensure transparency and accuracy in public discourse.
